The annual interschool sports and co-curricular meet “XXXIII CBSE Cluster Meet 2025” kicked off at the International Indian School Jeddah, which is the host school for the event this year. The zonal level competitions were conducted in April, following which the finalists participated in the cluster meet, which was inaugurated on May 17 at IISJ boys’ section.

Consul General of India Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri was the chief guest for this event. IISJ Managing Committee Chairman Dr. Mohammed Abdul Saleem, members of the managing committee, officials of the Saudi Basketball Academy, principals from participating schools, officials and staff of the host school, in addition to coaches, managers and participants from 18 CBSE schools across the Kingdom were part of this program.

Chapter Convener and Principal of IISJ Dr. Mohammed Imran welcomed the gathering, urging participants to compete with true sportsmanship and camaraderie. The chief guest along with all the dignitaries hoisted the CBSE flag and declared the cluster meet open. Suri, who attended the event despite his commitments to ongoing Hajj preparations, said he was eager to meet the 715 participants. Wishing them luck, he advised students to participate with zeal and enjoy every moment.

The cluster meet mascot “Altius” was introduced in a grand manner leaving the crowd excited. Students of the III-V blocks welcomed the gathering with a musical performance. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Vice Principal of the Girls’ Section Farhadunnisa.

Phase 1 included badminton (under ages 14,16 and 17 for boys and girls), basketball (under 19 for girls), volleyball (under 19 boys), and football (under 19 boys) These teams came from the central, eastern and western regions of the Kingdom to participate in the final matches to clinch the championship.

IISJ won the rolling trophies for volleyball (boys) and basketball (girls), while IISR and NMEIS Riyadh bagged the rolling trophies for badminton for boys and girls, respectively. Al-Mawarid International School won the rolling trophy for football. In the first phase, IISJ and IISR are leading with equal points. The second phase, which will be held in September, will determine the school that will bag the coveted overall championship of the cluster meet.

Prominent among those who attended the valedictory event and gave away the prizes were Dr. Prince Mufti Ziaul Hasan, Dr. Hemalatha Mahalingam and Dr. Mohammed  Shafee.

The managing committee chairman praised the coaches and participants of the schools and appreciated the host school for all the arrangements. Adil Akther, head of department of sports at IISJ, presented a report on the events held during the five-day meet. Mohammed Sirajuddin, senior PE teacher from IIS-Riyadh, presented the report on behalf of the participating schools. The valedictory event concluded with the vote of thanks presented by the Controller of Examinations and officiating vice principal of IISJ Boys Section Syed Abdul Haq.

The medals and trophies were given away during the closing ceremony, attended by Managing Committee chairman Saleem as chief guest, Managing Committee Member Prince Zia and other guests. Saleem lauded the coaches and participants of the participating schools and appreciated the host school for the impeccable arrangements. Adil Akther, head of department of sports in IISJ, presented a report on the events held during the five-day meet. Mohammed Sirajuddin, a senior PE teacher from IISR, presented the report on behalf of the participating schools. The event concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Dr. Najeeb Qais Ammar, the officiating vice principal of the boys section.

Matarat Holding has signed an MoU with Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies. This strategic partnership, signed at Passenger Terminal Expo in Madrid, Spain, seeks to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and improved passenger experience through digital solutions and collaborative technological advancements.

Matarat Holding manages the operations of 27 airports in Saudi Arabia through its subsidiaries (Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2), and the MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation across multiple strategic areas of aviation development. Through this partnership, Thales will implement its expertise in smart technologies to modernize airport operations and management, driving digital transformation across Matarat’s subsidiaries. The collaboration will focus on sharing innovation and best practices to enhance service quality, streamline operational processes, and adopt future-ready solutions that will set new industry standards.

A key priority of the agreement is enhancing the traveler experience by leveraging Thales’ advanced capabilities in AI, biometrics, automation, and data-driven systems to create seamless and secure passenger journeys. The partnership will also enable the implementation of advanced digital platforms and next-generation infrastructure in Matarat airports.

Bernard Roux, CEO of Thales in Saudi Arabia and Central Asia, said: “This collaboration with Matarat Holding represents a transformative step in reshaping the future of Saudi aviation. By combining Thales’ expertise in digital transformation with Matarat’s operational excellence, we are not just implementing technologies — we are co-creating a smart and safe aviation ecosystem. Our joint solutions in AI, cybersecurity and connected systems will set new benchmarks for operational efficiency, enhanced passenger experience, and national security, directly contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions to become a global aviation leader.”